They can still bake cookies, or bring in something consumable such as hand lotion or a candle, a potted plant or a coffee cup, said Jim Sumner, director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, which has been asked to clarify the law as it relates to holiday gifts.

Press-Register/Victor CalhounA Hamilton Elementary student gives his teacher a gift on the last day of school, 2010.

But cash or anything that a teacher could turn around and resell is out of the question, Sumner said, as are holiday turkeys and ham.

The law is vague, stating that an item must be of "de minimis" value, which, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means "lacking significance or importance; so minor as to merit disregard."

"The law does not define what de minimis is, and the Ethics Commission will not arbitrarily establish an amount," according to an ethics opinion filed in October.

Sweeping reforms to Alabama's ethics laws took effect in January, putting tougher restrictions on lobbyists and public officials. But Kristen Byrd, who has two children at Bay Minette Elementary and one at Bay Minette Middle, said that the effect on teachers is unfair.

She's not sure if the gift she has already bought for her son's kindergarten teacher - a monogrammed cheese tray - is allowed under the new law.

"This is very unfair for the teachers and the parents," Byrd said of the new restrictions. "The teachers, I'm sure, would absolutely tell you they don't expect gifts, but it's not fair that we can only give them the proverbial 'apple on the desk.'"

Byrd said that last year, Bay Minette's Parent Teacher Organization gave teachers $50 gift certificates to the Eastern Shore Centre to show appreciation for their hard work all year. That would likely no longer be allowed.

Mobile County schools Superintendent Roy Nichols said he thinks the new rule is fair. It isn't proper, he said, to give teachers cash or gift certificates. Making them something or picking out something inexpensive can actually be more thoughtful, he said.

Nichols said he plans to send out something to parents and teachers informing them of the new law.

"Probably everybody's going to be looking for some guidance," Nichols said. "We'll do what we can to guide them."

Sumner said the Ethics Commission is working on a more detailed opinion - answering a list of questions from the Alabama Association of School Boards - to be released in December.

"The test is whether or not the item being given has any resale value or value to others," the October opinion states.

Sumner said that to be safe, any parent wishing to buy a gift should stick to those that are under $15, and actually closer to the $5 range.

The law applies to 295,000 Alabama public officials and employees - teachers and all other state, county and city workers.

Danny Goodwin, a director of the Mobile County office of the Alabama Education Association teachers union, said he thinks the new rules are absurd, and that this is another attack on teachers, who have experienced cutbacks in their classrooms and are now paying more for health care and retirement.

Sumner said some people have exaggerated the new law, saying no gifts will be allowed.

But, in fact, "nobody has said they can't give their teacher a gift. It just has to be of very insignificant value."

In previous years, gifts worth $100 or less, as well as holiday turkeys and ham, were allowed.

Students could still give a gift certificate or present specifically for the classroom. "It just can't be something where it's a wink and a nod and you're actually giving it to the teacher," Sumner said.